20 Ice Cube Tray Hacks That Aren’t Just for Summer

Ah, the ice cube tray. Arguably one of the most humble kitchen items. We know that these trays have one job and one job only, right? Well, you might be surprised to hear that ice trays aren’t just for making the cubes that keep your summer drinks nice and cold. Like any good household item, there are a million things you can make with a simple ice cube tray – if you know the right hacks! And these fun tricks and projects aren’t JUST for summertime, too. You can make and enjoy these 20 ice cube tray hacks any time of year! Which one will you try first?

What’s better than a no-bake cheesecake? Bite-sized no-bake cheesecakes you don’t need special molds or pans to make. These delicious and delightful treats have three flavor options, and you can mix and match to your heart’s content with an ice cube tray to help.

Prefer your homemade candies and desserts to be a little more traditional? Ice cube trays can help with that too! These delightful and delicious chocolates have marshmallow, peanut butter, and caramel-and-nuts centers, all made the easiest way we know how.

Sick of ice cubes watering down your ice coffee? This little java hack uses an ice cube tray to make COFFEE cubes instead of ice cubes, so when these cubes melt, your coffee won’t get diluted and gross. You can also make cream cubes for gradually dissolving creamer in your coffee. Coffee lovers everywhere, rejoice!

Wondering what to do with leftover fresh herbs? Put them in an ice cube tray, fill the cubes with olive oil or broth and freeze. When the cubes form, you have perfectly portioned seasoning bombs to put in soups or to saute with dinner.

Extra sauce lingering from dinner? Don’t throw it away! Instead freeze it for the next time you need it by storing it in you ice cube tray. You’ll have convenient cubes of any sauce that will help you make your next pasta dinner a snap.

Artists everywhere struggle to find a paint palette that’s easy to maintain and won’t mix your colors – well, look no further than your freezer! Use an old ice cube tray as the perfect paint palette, and use the many empty cubes to hold individual colors without letting them intermingle.

Your garbage disposal can stink up a storm. To keep your sink (and your entire kitchen) smelling nice, you have to keep the disposal fresh smelling. Accomplish this easily with these citrus ice cubes. Freeze vinegar and lemon slices into cubes, then pop them down the disposal for a fresh scent that will fill your entire home.

With the sunshine in full swing, sunburn is an inevitable pitfall of summer. If your sunscreen didn’t quite hold up to the task and you arrive home from the beach lobster-red, try these aloe vera cubes to soothe your burn. The cube-shape is so convenient and the coolness of the frozen aloe feels amazing on burns.

Messy? Yes. Crazy fun for the kids? Absolutely! Your kids are going to go nuts for this melting chalk, and you’ll love watching as the beautiful colors run together. Easy to clean off your driveway and kid-friendly, this is a fun summer craft for everyone!

These yogurt bites can be made with any type of yogurt and any fruits, nuts, or chocolates can be added in for a little pizzazz! They make for a refreshing snack on a hot afternoon or a light dessert at a summer picnic.

For those times when you have leftover wine sitting around (I’m not familiar with this situation, but whatever…), freeze that wine into cubes! Perfect for tomorrow night’s wine spritzer or that big jug of sangria you’ve been dying to make for brunch.

Can’t get enough peanut butter cups? I feel you, they are my ultimate weakness. Instead of running out to the store for every PB craving, try making these organic peanut butter cups right at home in your ice cube tray. You’ll never run out of your personal peanut butter stash, which is a dream come true.

How many times does this happen a month: you have a few glasses left in your half gallon of milk, no reason to use it, and it’s going to spoil tomorrow? The answer is: CONSTANTLY. Don’t waste anymore milk with this little hack! Freeze your milk into cubes for extended life, then bust them out and melt them down for when you need them next.

Endless smoothies for everyone! Before your fruit goes, bad puree it and freeze it into cubes. Then, the next time you want a fresh, delicious smoothie, use your stored cubes for fresh fruit flavor. Never settle for a smoothie-less morning again.

Do you use your ice cube tray in a creative way? Share it in the comments section below!